The Love I Found After Leaving Him

Theater: NovelMaster  |  Language: English  |  NEW

Synopsis

I fell in love with my handsome landlord, Ethan.
On the night of our sixth anniversary, he rented out an entire restaurant to celebrate.
When we were about to get intimate that night, I accidentally saw a message pop up on his phone about “discussing the wedding.”
The sender called Ethan “Husband,” and her profile picture showed a stunningly beautiful woman.
I shoved Ethan away as he braced himself above the bed, breathing heavily.
This time, I was truly exhausted.
Ethan’s warmth still lingered all over my body.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
After I pushed him away, Ethan lost his mood, and there was a hint of displeasure in his voice.
“I don’t want to.”
After getting dressed, I went straight to the living room and desperately gulped in the fresh air.
I wanted to escape this terrifying place and get away from this hypocritical man.
I stood there in a daze for a few seconds.
Then I gathered my things and prepared to leave.
“Baby, why are you suddenly mad?”
Ethan naturally had no idea what was going on, and he probably thought he had hidden everything perfectly. He wanted to have both women.
I never expected him to make a mistake despite all his precautions.
“I suddenly don’t feel like taking care of you anymore.”
Ethan was rendered speechless by my words, and his already-irritated expression darkened.
I added, “You’re getting married, so why are you still messing with me?”
In an instant, Ethan’s expression darkened, and a trace of guilt flashed through his eyes.
Ethan and I came from completely different backgrounds.
I was a girl who had grown up in the mountains, while he was the heir to six rental properties.
All of Ethan’s friends said we were incompatible and could never get married.
I knew there probably wasn’t a future for us.
But Ethan rejected one blind date after another and repeatedly went out of his way to make me happy.
He made me believe that I could change society’s prejudices and stay with him for the rest of our lives.
I learned to make Southern desserts for him.
For his sake, I gave up spicy food and learned to eat mild meals.
I adjusted my schedule to match his and encouraged him to start a business.
Yet he spent less and less time with me, always claiming that it was “for the sake of a better future for the two of us.”
In the end, I was the only clown in the story.
“Chloe, listen to me.”
Ethan grabbed my hand and held me in place.
“Did you see the message on my phone? My parents insist that I marry her. Otherwise, they’ll cut off my financial support. You know that without my family, I’m nothing. I had no choice but to pretend to go along with them.”
“Don’t worry. My heart has always belonged to you. I can’t give you marriage, but I’ll do my best to give you everything else.”
Ethan sounded sincere.
But what I heard was absurd.
A relationship without marriage as its goal was nothing but playing with someone’s feelings.
Thinking only about your own freedom while refusing to take responsibility for a woman was exactly what a scumbag did.
I forcefully pulled my hand away and said, “How much is your love even worth?”
“I don’t want this twisted kind of love anymore.”
I stared into his eyes as I spoke.
It was the first time Ethan had seen me so firm and decisive. For a moment, his expression became confused, but his pride kept him from begging me to stay.
“Then leave! Just don’t regret it after you go! If you come crawling back to me later, I may not feel like taking you back.”
Ethan lifted his chin and spoke coldly.
Looking at the man I had loved for six years, I felt an overwhelming disgust rise from the depths of my heart.
During the day, Ethan had been rushing around preparing for our sixth anniversary.
He rented out an entire French restaurant, hired a violinist to play my favorite song, and put a diamond necklace around my neck.
We had gazed at the river through the floor-to-ceiling windows and kissed passionately.
That night, we should have been lost in a heated embrace.
But when Ethan was searching through the nightstand for a condom, I happened to look up and see a message pop up on his phone:
【Husband, remember that we’re meeting in the private dining room at the grand hotel tomorrow to discuss the wedding. See you tomorrow. Love you, mwah!】
The profile picture showed a dazzlingly beautiful woman.
I happened to know her too.
She was Victoria, the daughter of Ethan’s neighbors, and she also came from a wealthy family that had made its fortune through property compensation.
After Victoria returned home to settle down, Ethan’s parents had constantly tried to match the two of them.
Ethan had rejected more than a hundred blind dates, but Victoria was the one exception.
“She was my childhood friend. If I reject her outright, it’ll be awkward since we’ll inevitably run into each other later,” Ethan had explained to me.
I believed him.
But Victoria moved into an apartment owned by Ethan’s family.
Ethan helped her furnish it again and again.
Victoria invited Ethan out again and again. The two of them had traveled alone to the west coast, Iceland, and the Maldives.
Their life together was both romantic and full of ordinary warmth. They looked more like a perfectly in-sync young couple.
I should have guessed the truth long ago.I left Ethan’s home on the night of our sixth anniversary.
Before leaving, I placed the diamond necklace by the entryway.
On the drive home, I opened Victoria’s Instagram.
Her Instagram was filled with snapshots of a rich girl’s everyday life. I deliberately scrolled through them.
One post showed Victoria bungee jumping. She had uploaded a selfie wearing sunglasses.
There was a very familiar reflection in the lenses. It was almost impossible to notice without looking closely. My hands trembled as I enlarged the picture.
There was no doubt about it.
It was Ethan.
That day, I had fallen off my bicycle and hurt my foot.
“Ethan, I’m in so much pain. I’m still getting an IV. Are you done with work? Can you come pick me up?”
“Baby, I had an appointment with a very important friend today. I probably won’t be able to make it.”
“It’s okay. You go ahead and take care of your business.”
Like any ordinary girlfriend, he was the first person I thought of when I got hurt.
And like any ordinary girlfriend, I had given him plenty of space instead of getting angry or making a scene.
I never imagined that Ethan hadn’t been meeting a client that day.
He had been meeting his old flame.
As I scrolled farther, I saw that Victoria had also posted pictures of a gold bracelet and a crystal necklace, with the caption:
【We really are on the same wavelength. I wanted it, and he just happened to give it to me.】
I studied the packaging in the picture carefully.
It was the exact brand I had once mentioned to Ethan.
By coincidence, Ethan had also given me jewelry from the same brand.
The only difference was that I had received a bracelet instead of a bangle.
When I received that gift, I had been so grateful that I nearly cried, completely immersed in my boyfriend’s affection.
I had no idea my gift had merely been an add-on.
After seeing that, I shut off my phone.
I couldn’t keep humiliating myself.
I opened the window and let the wind blow against my face, trying to let it sweep away the darkness in my heart.
“I mailed the apartment keys to your home. From now on, let’s go our separate ways.”
“Let’s go our separate ways” was the last bit of dignity I gave him.
After deciding to leave Ethan, I packed up everything and hired a moving company to empty the apartment.
“Okay.”
Ethan was a man of few words. He sent back only one word. I stared at the screen and felt a strange ache in my chest.
No matter how angry Ethan had been in the past, he would always start his messages with “Baby,” but this time, his pride remained intact.
He didn’t want to say even one extra word.
Maybe he had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Maybe the beginning of our relationship had been a mistake.
Not long after graduating, I settled in New York and became a yoga instructor.
The apartment was quiet and decorated in a simple, modern style, exactly what I wanted, so I decided that same day to sign the lease with the agent.
After I moved in, I always contacted Ethan whenever there was a problem with the water, electricity, or heating because the agent had given me Ethan’s contact information.
At first, I thought Ethan was a professional maintenance worker. Later, I found out that he owned the entire building.
His parents wanted to train him, so they made him handle all the building’s repairs and collect the rent.
“You’re amazing! You don’t look much older than me, so how do you know how to handle all these odd jobs?”
I sincerely admired Ethan’s practical skills, and I admired even more how hardworking he was despite coming from a wealthy property-owning family.
“It’s nothing. You get used to it after doing it enough times, and none of this is that difficult.”
Ethan’s bangs were damp with sweat.
The sweat trickled down his narrow eyes and high nose, making his fair skin look even brighter and more translucent, as though every pore were giving off raw hormonal energy.At first, we were simply landlord and tenant.
We truly became close after a terrifying incident.
One night, I finished my last yoga class and returned to the apartment building after eleven.
After getting off the bus, I felt as if someone was following closely behind me, maintaining a distance that was neither too near nor too far.
My heart tightened.
Reason told me not to panic.
So I quickened my pace toward the apartment building and hurriedly pressed the elevator button.
A man wearing a hat and mask drew closer and closer. My heart pounded, and fear rose into my throat.
When the elevator arrived, I hurried inside, closed the doors, and pressed every button above the middle floors.
When the elevator reached the fourth floor, I ran out.
As I reached the corner of the hallway, I collided with Ethan, who was carrying a ladder.
“Help me! Someone’s following me!”
I grabbed Ethan’s arm and cried out for help in a panic, as if he were the last lifeline left in my life.
Ethan gave me a steady look.
Before he could even answer, he chased after the man, grabbed him, and punched and kicked him while shouting, “You sick freak! If you ever follow her again, I’ll break your legs!”
At six feet tall, Ethan looked incredibly strong and handsome.
At that moment, my heart seemed to stop.
I developed a special feeling for him.
Standing by the entryway, I looked at the empty apartment and down the hallway filled with memories, then let out a deep sigh.
“Six years of your youth, and a partner with such great conditions. Are you really giving him up just like that? You won’t regret it?”
My coworker, Mia, couldn’t help sighing when she heard that I had broken up.
“I won’t regret it. Even if we kept dragging things out, we wouldn’t have had a future.”
I answered calmly while stirring instant coffee.
“Even without Victoria, we would have broken up eventually. He’s always been rational and clear-headed.”
“If he had a better option, of course he wouldn’t choose me. I can understand that now.” I lowered my head after finally accepting reality.
“Look at Victoria’s Instagram. She’s showing off again.”
Mia sounded agitated, as if she had just discovered the juiciest gossip.
Although I had no intention of looking, I somehow opened Victoria’s latest post.
One picture showed Ethan and Victoria with their cheeks pressed together, and another showed the opening of a flower shop.
The caption read:
【My husband finally agreed to show his face.】
People teased them and offered their congratulations in the comments.
【You’re already calling him your husband. Does that mean the wedding is coming soon?】
【I’m so jealous. You found someone handsome who matches your background.】
【Your fiancé spoils you so much. He knows you love flowers, so he opened a flower shop for you.】
【Congratulations! We’re waiting for the wedding feast!】
Heh.
I pulled my lips into a stiff, mocking smile.
What a perfect, well-matched couple.
So Ethan’s business venture was opening a flower shop for Victoria.
I thought about my former self, who had stayed up all night writing a business plan to encourage Ethan to start his own company.
I never expected that he had no interest in that at all. The business venture he had talked about couldn’t compare with his desire to pamper his wife.
From beginning to end, I had only been an immature supporting character.
“Chloe, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Don’t be sad. Come out for a drink. They say alcohol makes all your troubles disappear!”
After Mia repeatedly urged me, I went to a bar with her.
The interior was colorful and dazzling, and music thundered through the room.
I hadn’t been to a bar in years, and every cell in my body felt out of place.“I’m pretty traditional. I don’t really like girls who go to bars or have tattoos,” Ethan had once told me during one of our heart-to-heart talks.
But now, the bar was one of Ethan and Victoria’s favorite places to hang out.
“Chloe, come over here! You’re being way too reserved. Get up and dance!” Mia pulled me into the center of the dance floor.
I watched the men and women lose themselves in the music, and soon I began dancing too.
For a moment, it felt as if all my troubles had vanished.
“Hey, beautiful. Want to exchange contact information?”
Not long after I started dancing, a man with dyed blond hair came over and grabbed my hand, insisting that I add him.
“Sorry, but I’m not interested.” I pushed him away forcefully.
Even though our movements were large and our voices were loud, no one nearby paid any attention.
The man refused to give up and kept coming closer.
I was just about to curse him out when he threw up all over me.
What incredible luck.
“I’m so sorry. My friend drank too much. He just got dumped today.”
“Here’s my contact information. Call me if you need anything.”
With that, he handed me a pack of wet wipes, a suit jacket, and a business card.
I glanced at it: 【Peak Fitness · Owner, Ryan Grant】
Before I could refuse the jacket, he hoisted his drunk friend over his shoulder and left.
His eyes had a natural amber tint, and the proportions of his brows, eyes, and nose were perfect. His features were deep and refined, and he was handsome in a completely different way.
After being caught in such an absurd situation, I had lost all interest in staying.
I cleaned myself up in the restroom and left first with the jacket draped over my shoulders.
“Mia, I’m not feeling well, so I’m going home. You should head back and get some rest too.”
The suit jacket carried a faint woody scent. It seemed that this exceptionally handsome man was also very refined.
Two days later, I took the dry-cleaned jacket to Ryan’s workplace.
“I’d like to apologize again on behalf of my friend. How much did your jacket cost? I’ll pay you for it.”
Ryan insisted on adding me as a contact so he could transfer the money to me.
There were too many people in the gym, and many of them turned around or glanced sideways at me.
I didn’t want to attract too much attention, so I agreed. It never hurt to make another friend, especially when he owned a gym. We might even be able to work together someday.
I held up my phone for Ryan to scan, and then an unwelcome guest appeared.
“Chloe? Is that really you?”
I had intended to pretend I hadn’t seen her, but Victoria secretly took a picture of us and spoke first.
We had met before, so she knew I had once been Ethan’s girlfriend and naturally recognized my face.
“Was that your new boyfriend?”
“You’d better delete that picture, or I’ll sue you for violating my right to privacy.”
I gave her a stiff, polite smile and prepared to leave.
But Victoria grabbed my arm.
A moment later, Ethan appeared too.
It seemed the engaged couple had arranged to work out together.
Victoria raised her voice.
“Ethan, you came at the perfect time. Look who we ran into! It’s Chloe. It looks like she has a new boyfriend.”
What a performance.
She was dripping with fake sweetness.
“None of your business. Let go of me.” The smile vanished from my face, and I glared at her coldly.
Ethan’s expression shifted.
He walked over and asked flatly, “Really? A new boyfriend?”
I deliberately ignored his question and rolled my eyes at him.
“Why are you afraid to admit it? You probably found a replacement long ago,” Victoria provoked.
“Who are you? Why would I have to explain my private life to you?” I lifted my chin and met Ethan’s gaze.
How ridiculous.
The moment we met, they had started turning the blame on me.
Did rich people all enjoy playing these games?
“So this is why you suddenly insisted on breaking up. You already found some other sucker to take my place.”
Ethan spoke sarcastically.
Victoria looked uncomfortable when he said that.
“So what if I did? And so what if I didn’t? You’re the one who was two-timing me. What right do you have to judge me?”
I stared viciously at him with all the strength I had left.
Ethan clenched his fists. His mouth opened, but he stammered and swallowed whatever he had been about to say.
“Get this straight. We’re already broken up.”
At those words, Ethan’s eyes reddened, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
I pushed him aside and turned to leave.
Behind me came a familiar sound of muffled sobbing.

Chapters (4)

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Watch & Promotions

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